The team led the visitors to Cannery and Brgy. Maligo Community Nurseries for exposure trip on the different planted bamboos and assorted forest and fruit trees. Then, the team went to the 4-hectare company owned area at Prk. 5 Dam, Maligo & Landan where bagras trees can be planted and be used as a ramet multiplication garden. Mr. Tabilla inspected the trees and commented that one of the trees is a possible candidate as a mother plant. They also visited 113BC Gully in Brgy. Polo to see the different tree species are planted. On the second day, the team visited Dole Agro Research Facility in Poblacion, Polomolok and was toured by Dr. Noel Perpetua and Ms. Meredith Dacayo around the facility. The team took a side visit to the Engineered Bamboo House.

During the discussion on the next steps, it was agreed that: the species for planting will be hybrid bagras, white lauan, and other locally available species; CTNI will provide technical assistance and transfer of “Macro Somatic Cloning” Technology to Dolefil.

CTNI is into mass production of quality tree seedlings by means of Macrosomatic Cloning. It is a subsidiary of RI Chemical Corporation with a vision to be a leader in the propagation of genetically superior trees that will fight climate change, alleviate the poverty and increase the income of tree farmers.

Dole Philippines, Inc., through Mahintana Foundation, Inc, conducted the Blessing and Turnover of the Bamboo Model House to Barangay LGU of Cannery Site, Polomolok, South Cotabato on August 31, 2018. It was attended by the key persons of the Dole Phils, Inc, Mahintana, partner cooperatives, LGU representatives and Mahintana staff. The ribbon cutting and blessing of the bamboo model house preceded the short program of the turnover ceremony.

Funded by by Dole Philippines, Inc. implemented by Mahintana Foundation, Inc. in partnership with LGU-Polomolok, BLGU-Cannery, Dole Kaugnay and LEAD Trio and UEWMPC, the Bamboo House Project’s goal is to help establish a sustainable ecotourism site in Polomolok by constructing bamboo-based village through the application of the technical skills acquired from the Learning Visit and Bamboo House Construction Workshop in Green Village, Bali Indonesia on June 16-18, 2017 by 12 representatives LGU Polomolok, Unified Engineering Works MPC, Crossing Palkan Bamboo Association, Darwin Glass and Supply, and Mahintana Foundation. The groundbreaking was done on March 20, 2018.

In celebration of the 41st Anniversary of Mahintana and SRC with the theme “Exploring Possibilities Beyond Boundaries”, a Tree Growing and Stone Dike Construction activity was conducted in the 116A Field Gully at Prk. Paglaum, Bgry. Upper Klinan, Polomolok, South Cotabato. It was attended by around 200 participants including the executives and directors of Dole Philippines, Inc., partner cooperatives, LGU representatives of the municipality and barangays, and SRC and Mahintana staff.

Participants assembled and registered at the Brgy. Cannery Hall grounds before jumping off to the site. The welcome address was given by Mahintana President and CEO Mr. Martiniano L. Magdolot. Mr. Magdolot welcomed the key persons and participants, as well as, acknowledged the support of the stakeholders to the tree growing activity as one of the celebratory activities of Mahintana and SRC. Among those who gave the Message of Support are the following: Dolefil VP and Managing Director Mr. Randolph I. Fleming, Mun. Councilor Mr. Allan Ines, MCDC Chairperson Mr. Lory Asilo, and Cannery Punong Barangay and ABC President Mr. Antonio Octavio. For the closing remarks, SRC President Mr. Carlos T. Baldostamon, Jr. said that planting trees is a great way to leave a legacy aside from educating the young.

The Ceremonial Tree Growing commenced by a demonstration on how to plant the seedlings by Mr. Baldostamon and R2R Project Officer Mr. Ramon Christopher Manero followed by a dance number depicting the B’laan Tribe planting ritual dance by Landan National High School students. Then, the participants were given fruit and forest tree seedlings and started planting. The VIPs were invited to come down the gully for the stone dike construction.

A Partnership Agreement was signed between the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) represented by Ms. Lourdes R. Simpol, PhD., Chairperson/CEO and Mahintana Foundation, Inc. represented by Mr. Martiniano L. Magdolot, President and CEO, on February 23, 2018 at FPE-Mindanao Regional Unit Office at Matina, Davao City. This represents the approval of the Scale-up Reduced Pollution through Vegetation and Rehabilitation (Scale-up REPAIR) of Silway River (Phase 3) proposal.

The REPAIR Phase 3 Project seeks to reduce water pollution and enhance the vegetative cover of riverbanks, gullies and/or tributaries of Silway River System/Watershed of Barangays Lumakil and Rubber in Polomolok, and Brgy. Basag, T’boli, South Cotabato. The project worth P2,000,000.00 is to be implemented for 1 year which shall take effect on March 1, 2018 until April 1, 2019.

Ms. Ella Mae M. Babao of Mahintana Foundation, Inc. represented CSDO-SC in the CARE Humanitarian Partnership Platform Capacity Training and ALERT Roll out on February 6-8, 2018 at N-Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental. The training was participated by nine (9) civil society organizations namely, Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks (MINCODE), Disaster Response Center (DIRECT), Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation, Inc. (MISFI), Bread for Emergency Assistance and Development (BREAD), AL-MUJADILAH Development Foundation (AMDF), Citizens’ Disaster Response Center (CDRC), Panday Bulig, Agri-Aqua Development Coalition (AADC) and KADAIT. CSDO-SC is under the umbrella of MINCODE. The 3-day event is part of the ALERT trial period, where different NGOs were trained and supported to trial and/or integrate the ALERT emergency preparedness system in their organizations.

ALERT is “An innovative emergency preparedness system that improves country office preparedness, reduces the burden of preparedness on the country team and increases their ability to respond immediately, effectively and appropriately when a disaster strikes.” The ALERT Project aims to contribute toward the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance by providing the humanitarian community with the technology and guidance to facilitate an increased level of emergency preparedness and maintain their operational preparedness at a consistent and appropriate level.